A Shelton resident, Burnest Geyer, Jr., 32, pleaded guilty to a child exploitation charge in federal court in New Haven. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut announced that Geyer waived his right to be indicted and entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden.
Court records indicate that investigators learned Geyer told one person he had videos containing child pornography and discussed his collection with another individual on Telegram, an encrypted messaging app. In July 2024, during a Telegram conversation, Geyer shared his laptop screen and displayed images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children.
Geyer’s arrest took place on October 8, 2024. Investigators executed a search warrant at his home and seized his iPhone along with other items. Forensic analysis of the device revealed over 3,000 images and videos depicting child pornography, including material involving infants and toddlers.
Authorities also found that Geyer engaged in multiple conversations on both Telegram and WhatsApp about sexually abusing minors. He allegedly offered to pay adult content creators to exploit their children during video calls.
Geyer admitted guilt to receiving and distributing child pornography. This offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could result in up to 20 years if convicted at sentencing. The date for sentencing has not been set.
Currently released on a $100,000 bond, Geyer is scheduled for a detention hearing tomorrow in Bridgeport.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with help from the Bridgeport Police Department and the Shelton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon is prosecuting the case.
According to the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, this prosecution is part of broader efforts aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Individuals can report suspected cases of child exploitation through the CyberTipline website (https://www.cybertipline.com).
“This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.”
“To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.”
